EP 0653620 B1 20010912 - Optical sensor
Title (en)
Optical sensor
Title (de)
Optischer Sensor
Title (fr)
Capteur optique
Publication
Application
Priority
DE 4336520 A 19931026
Abstract (en)
[origin: EP0653620A1] In modern washing machines, the washing and rinsing cycles are monitored with the aid of an electronic control unit and optimised with respect to power and water consumption. So-called turbidity sensors (nephelometers) which usually consist of a light-emitting diode and a photosensitive element are used as measured-value generators. The subject matter of the invention is an optical sensor which allows unambiguous establishment of whether a measuring tube contains air or water or turbid soapy water. According to the invention, the measuring tube (3) of the optical sensor has a slightly spherical inward curve respectively in the region of the entering and emerging beam pencil (4, 4'). When filled with water, the measuring tube (3) then acts as a weak diverging lens which broadens the beam pencil (4') in the region of the phototransistor (2). Almost no lens action is developed by the measuring tube (3) when it is filled with air. It allows the radiation (4) to reach the phototransistor (2) undeviated, and the latter measures a correspondingly higher intensity in this case. The turbidity sensor can be used for washing and rinsing machines, sewage monitoring systems and medical devices. <IMAGE>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
G01N 21/59 (2006.01); C02F 1/00 (2006.01); D06F 33/02 (2006.01); D06F 39/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/85 (2006.01); G01V 8/12 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
D06F 34/22 (2020.02 - EP US); G01N 21/0303 (2013.01 - EP US); G01N 21/534 (2013.01 - EP); G01V 8/12 (2013.01 - EP); D06F 2103/20 (2020.02 - EP US); G01N 2021/0392 (2013.01 - EP)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
ES FR IT
DOCDB simple family (publication)
DE 4336520 A1 19950427; DE 4336520 C2 19980723; EP 0653620 A1 19950517; EP 0653620 B1 20010912; ES 2164077 T3 20020216; JP H07190929 A 19950728
DOCDB simple family (application)
DE 4336520 A 19931026; EP 94116032 A 19941011; ES 94116032 T 19941011; JP 26062494 A 19941025